vicarious suffering - 1st Sunday of Lent A

I have already reflected with you this morning on our gospel and on our first reading which revolve around temptation.  So this evening I would like to reflect with you on our second reading taken from the letter to the Romans.

This passage from chapter 5 of the Letter to the Romans and its preceding passages starting in chapter 4 is a contentious passage which divides so many Christians even now ever since the time of Martin Luther, which triggered the greatest upheaval in Christianity which we simply call in Church history as the Period of the Reformation.  This controversy referred to is justification by faith.  This is the source of the protestant doctrine sola fide, faith alone as against the catholic doctrine of faith and good works.

This is something better left to your theology class but for the interest of the season of lent I would like to call your attention to the concluding passage in our reading which says, “just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.”

Because of the disobedience of Adam (he ate the forbidden fruit) all of us were made sinners, so by the obedience of Jesus (he accepted the cross) all of us were made righteous.

Last time I heard something got lost in the high school community.  Because of the sin of one seminarian all suffered.  I heard some of you slept  in the wee hours of the morning trying to solve the case.  All of you suffered because of the sin of one man.  In fact all of you were about to be punished even more because of the sin of that one person, whoever he is.  And then in the nick of time before the axe fell, the High School Council accepted the punishment instead, so that the whole high school community especially the Grade VII, who have a great need to go home, could go home.  Because of the obedience of several men the whole community were saved, order was restored.  The council had to suffer no going home for several weekends so that the whole community could go home.

That is what St. Paul said Jesus did.  Adam disobeyed and we were all damned.  But Jesus came and obeyed and we were all saved.  In a way what the Council did was what Jesus also did.  Pero ang nami pamangkotan is, sino to ang buangit nga Adan sang high school.  

In Christian theology we call this vicarious suffering.  What is vicarious suffering?  Vicarious suffering is the act of allowing oneself to go through suffering for the sake of others.  This is what Jesus did.  In a way this is what the council did.  This affirms the fact that it is possible that others can be saved, others can be graced, if in my concern and love for them I am willing to undergo suffering for their sake.

This is what is also being asked of us during lent.  To do mortifications, self-denials so that by the good that we do, by the suffering that we willingly undergo others will be graced, others will be forgiven, others might be converted, others will be blessed.  Last Ash Wednesday to whom did you offer your hunger. Basi naghagi ka lang kumod – “kadugay man ni mag supper time man.  Kadugay man ni mag bell man naggutom na ko.”  Kon wala mo gin-offer yadtong gutom mo for somebody, then kanugon.  You know, prayers accompanied by sacrifices are very powerful prayers.  As for me I offered it for my mother so that I can have a little share sa iya nga suffering sa ICU samtang ginatublok sia sang mga dagom didto.  Buhin-buhini Lord ang iya sakit, ihatag ang iban sa akon.  That is vicarious suffering.

This lent, make some mortifications, make some sacrifices for the sake of others.  Indi lang ini fasting.  Mortification means to do the good that you do not like to do, to do the good that is repugnant to you.  Kon law-ay ang sud-an kan-a, kag damo-a kaon.  Kon namit ang sud-an gamay lang kan-on mo kag ihatag mo imo parte sa iban, ilabi na gid sa  mga niwang.  What is the good that you do not like to do?  You do not like to pick up that piece of paper?  You don’t like to do your house cleaning?  You do not want to clean in the CR?  Then volunteer.  Elanga – iassign ako sa CR.  Do it and offer this sacrifice, this suffering for others.  People will be graced because of you.  People will be blessed because of you because that is vicarious suffering in imitation of what Jesus did for you and for me.